Family members of brothers Nigel and Donavan Yap, held a short prayer session at Mandai Crematorium on Tuesday morning, to mark the first death anniversary of the boys - a day after a truck driver was jailed for two weeks over the fatal road traffic accident.

Eight family members and friends from church joined Mr Francis Yap, 42, and his wife, Madam Suliani Ang, 39, in a 15-minute prayer session in front of the niche where their sons' ashes are kept.

It was an emotional day, especially for the boys' grandmother, who was seen sobbing. "Why must this happen? Chinese New Year used to be such a happy occasion. No matter how poor I am, I have my grandsons. Why must they be taken away from me? How do I carry on?" cried out the grandmother, who had travelled to Singapore from Batam for the anniversary.

Nigel Yap, 13, and Donavan, seven, were killed near their home when a truck driven by Munir Mohd Naim, 57, hit them on Tampines Street 45 at about 5.40pm. Nigel was cycling across the road with his brother riding pillion.

The horrific traffic accident last year had sparked a public outcry over the safety of children within school zones - leading to harsher punishments being introduced for drivers who flout traffic rules in school zones here.

Starting this year, motorists caught committing the offence of careless driving, inconsiderate driving, beating the red light, or speeding within school zones will get an extra demerit point on top of those already levied.

In a move to step up enforcement against errant motorists in these areas, the extra demerit point will apply to all school zones, said the Traffic Police.

There are more than 300 school zones at primary and special schools. Not all, however, are demarcated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) as a school zone. But the LTA said it will start demarcating secondary schools as such from the second quarter of next year. This will be completed by end-2015.

The Straits Times

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